Pictogram 7: Health Hazard - Mutagenicity

Pictogram 7, the Health Hazard pictogram, identifies chemicals that cause mutagenicity. Mutagenicity is "the capacity to induce mutations." Mutations are changes to the hereditary material that alter an organism's chromosomes or DNA. This process of mutation is called mutagenesis; the tendency of chromosomes to be altered is called mutagenicity.

OSHA defines mutagenesis as follows:

"Genetic effects result from damage to DNA and altered genetic expression. This process is known as mutagenesis. The genetic change is referred to as a mutation and the agent causing the change as a mutagen."

This change can be heritable (passed on to offspring) if the mutation occurs in a germ cell. Germ cells are reproductive cells, such as the sperm in males and the ova in females. The parents may experience no effect from the mutation but can pass the mutation (through their sperm or ova) to their offspring.

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